Combination tool and handle



F. W. COFFING COMBINATION TOOL ANDHANDLE Feb. 8, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet l v Filed July 26, 1946 x mr N NF K Em .7 W. r. M rm Patented Feb. 8, 194.9

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION TOOL AND HANDLE Fredrick W. Coiling, Danville, Ill.

Application July 26, 1946, Serial No. 686,570

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a universal garden tool.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a holder, as it were, for tool means, which holder is of the handle supportable type and which is adapted to support the tool means in a plurality of positions and retain the tool means in the selected position.

The chief feature of the invention resides in providing a tool holder of the character described with a pair of crossing bores, same terminating at one end at the surface of the holder and the bores being substantially similar, the holder being provided with a tool means lock disposed to selectively lock the shank of the tool means when bore seated regardless of which bore is shank occupied.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. l is a plan view of the holder and lock.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a blade type tool and the handle, parts being broken away to show the same in section.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a. blade type tool and a central sectional view of a handle mounting the same, the position of the tool with respect to the handle being substantially at 90 to that illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an end elevation of a rake type tool.

Fig-8 is a front view thereof, dotted lines indicating an extended form thereof of fork character.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 4 l indicates an elongated body portion which (see Fig. 4) is provided with a socket H for reception of the tapered end of a handle and the same may be wedge fitted therein or may be pinned or otherwise anchored, for which purpose the hole I2 is provided (see Fig. 2).

This holder has a head portion [3 and this head portion herein terminates in two transversely disposed faces l4 and I5. Extending inwardly from each face is a cylindrical bore l6 and I1 respectively. The bore I6 is longitudinally; disposed and the bore I! may extend entirely through the head portion as shown (see Figs. 1 and .3).

The two bores intersect or cross eachother as illustrated. The head portion 13 adjacent the crossing or communication is provided with a smaller bore I 8 and slidable therein is a pin member 20. Adjacent the surface of the head portion I3 is a cap or head member 2! and the two parts 204i have rigid connection, as a screw thread connection indicated generally by the numeral 22. Between the two parts there is disposed a leaf spring member 23, same being apertured at 24 near one end and anchored at 25 to the head portion l3.

The spring 23 normally constrains this push button or latch'inwardly into the communication or crossing of the two bores. Herein each face M or IE respectively is'provided with equally spaced, radially directed diametrically paired slots or grooves 26 and 21 respectively, see Figs. 2 and 3.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 5 and 6. Herein a single bladed element is shown in the form of a hoe blade 28 and the tool means includes a shank 29 having a frusto-conical end 30 remote from the tool portion. The shank 29 is provided with a tapered enlargement 3! that're enforces the blade 28. The latter may have a sharpened edge 32 and its u per edge 33- opposite therefrom, it will be noted, terminates above or is spaced from the shoulder portion 34 of the portion 3|. Hence shoulder 34 bears against face M or l5, while edge 33 forms a tongue that is seatable in a pair of aligned or diametrically arranged slots 26 or 21, as the case may be.

The shank '29 includes a peripheral groove or channel 35, and the same is so positioned that the channel registers with the crossing communication or intersection of the two body portion bores when the shank is mounted in the body portion.

Thus, regardless of which bore is occupied by the shank, the latch pin 2!} will seat in the groove or channel 35, thus positively locking the shank in and to the holder. Pivoting, since the bore and shank are cylindrical, is prevented by the tongue 33 and groove 26-42! or tongue and shoulder association shown.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the tool is illustrated as of the hoe type, that is, the blade is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the holder and the handle. It will be obvious that the tool means, including the blade and the shank, can be inserted in the longitudinal bore l6 and in any desired, adjusted position determined by the slots 26. Regardless of which bore is occupied by the shank and regardless of which position the tool means is placed with respect to that bore, the lock 20 holds the shank and consequently the tool to the holder as described and as desired.

The axe blade can be similar to the hoe blade Extending centrally therefrom and coplaner e 2 therewith is the shank 3? and said shank includes the collar portion 33 and the wing 'Ol-pl2;13' por tion 38, all being suitably secured together as bythe weld M2. The shank 31 is providedwith the peripheral groove 4i and the opposite end i'na tl 1* be of frusto-conical type as indicated at 42.

When this tool element is applied to the socket in the same position as shown in Fig. 5 it will be obvious'that there results a rake formation.

However, when "the tool is applied with the shank**'longitudinally disposed there results a Che dotted lines 53 in Figs. 7"

shorttined fork. and 8"merely1n .te extended outlines of a rake structure ands-rich a rake when longitudinally disposed-may readily serve as a pitch fork.

With respect'to the rake structure shown in Figs. '7 and 8, it is to be borne in mind that the shank applied to'the socket as in Fig. 5 so that the handle or holder is pulled toward the left. It willialso benoted that the rake can be adjusted to differntangles because the blade or wing structure 35 seats in a pair of diametrically name grooves as desired wheneverthe shank is properly seated in either of the bores in the holder. When so seated the lock 29 retains the shank and of a lengtlrgreater than the length of the The invention claimed is:

1. In a universal garden type tool having an elongated body portion adapted at one end for connection to a handle substantially longitudinally aligned therewith, and a tool having an anchorable shank portion, the combination therewith of a socket formation at the other end of said body portion, a second socket formation disposed substantially transversely ofthe first socket formation ilthe two sockets intersecting, the sockets beingsubstantially identical in cross-section and of cylindrical character, the face of each formation having a plurality of diametral notch formations therein; each being of parallel wall character, the shank being of cylindrical type socketsFfronr-the notched face to the point of invtersection, the shank having a cylindrical reto the holder and turning (since the shank and bores areicylindrical) .is prevented by the last mentioned interlock between the wings and radial grooves. u I

In all iorins the chamfered end of the shank facilitates entrance thereof into the selected bore.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredas illustrative and not restrictive in char--.

acter.-, The several modifications described herein, as

well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art all are considered to be within the broad scope of the inclaims-.

.5 vention, reference being had to the appended normally constraining-same inwardly into 'the' sockets; said' l'ocking inembertermin'ating: in an exposed fingen'engageable portion:

FREDRICK W. COFFING;': 1

REFERENCES. CITED 1.

The following references are of record in. the l file hi this patent;

UNITED'-STATES PATENTS 1 Number Name Date 308,703 Richardson. Dec. 2, 1884' 338,652 Weiss Mar. 23, 1386 514,308 Davis Feb. 6; 1894 137 2109" Carhmackn- Feb. 15, 19.16 l,391,017 Sohnle Sept.'20, 1921 1,743,505 Turgeon Jan." 14, 1930 2947;613' Brown July 14, 1936 2,061,448 Bath Nov. 17, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,318" GreatBritain FebL 28,' 901 'duce'd neck portion registering with the said socket intersection when the shank is seated in either sockewfiiametrally disposed tongues-e. on

tool adjacent said shank and simultaneousei 1y seatablaiir aidiametralnotch for locking the.

tool against rotation in the selected socket, and 'a slidablielockingnnember disposed infabore transverse "to both 'JSOCkBlSSIEhd having" a socket ex- 5 posed endr'seatable' in the neckportion to pre vent shank withdrawal from the selectedsocketzz' 2. A- -tool= as defined: lay claim 1; characterized by a ieatzspringfianchored at one end 'to' the'body.

portionmpon'the exterior: thereof and. having its other" operatively' connected-to a bodyfiportion expcsedS-enda of: the :said "locking member, and- 24,861 Great"-Britain" Oct. 26, "1910* 

